Waltham Forest

Welcome

U3a is about retired or partially retired people learning new things, expanding horizons, sharing their personal skills and experiences, making new friends, and accepting new challenges to show that age need be no barrier to learning or to helping others to learn.

U3a is unique in that it is not a service organization or an alternative to an adult education centre. That's not why it was set up, over 40 years ago. Everyone who joins is actively involved in playing their part, small or large, in the mission. No-one is a 'passenger' who passively benefits. Everyone counts, everyone is making a contribution and everyone's contribution is valued. Like all u3as we are truly run by our members for our members. Without active members we are lost.

Last year we conducted a survey to find out what our members think and how we could do better. We presented the findings at the monthly meeting in September and the Committee introduced some changes to the way we run things in reponse to issues raised. We are currently (summer 2023) reviewing progress again.

Above all we are about enjoyment. Our motto is “Learn, laugh, live”. Third Agers want to continue to learn and develop and to exercise influence. Your confidence, experience and health (mental and/or physical) can all improve. The key to it all is that you’re exercising your brain and having fun at the same time. There is no compulsory homework, there are no tests and we don’t employ professional teachers. We teach each other. Some groups are ‘academic’ in nature, lots are not. Each group is simply what its members want it to be.

There are u3as in Europe, Australia and Canada. The first UK one started back in 1981 and there are now more than 1040 branches, with well over 400,000 members nationwide. Waltham Forest was founded in the summer of 1995 by a few interested retirees looking for a challenge. As of December 2022, the Waltham Forest u3a has 278 members, with an increasing number of groups for them to enjoy as well as a monthly programme of interesting talks, quizzes and socials. COVID has been a tough time for everyone but we have never ever stopped our activity and we are now gathering pace again. Have a look at our GROUPS page to see what we're doing at the moment. The new membership form can be downloaded from here and also from the CONTACT page, where there is a lot more detail about how to join.

We put up the current edition of our Waltham Forest Newsletter every month. Some personal details of u3a members are removed for privacy reasons but those of the Committee will always appear there. You can also use the Contact tab above to get in touch with us. The e-newsletter is sent out via our membership system, Beacon. Please let Vicky (Membership Secretary) know if you haven't received it as usual or if you experience any other glitches. You can send her an email via the Contact tab too.

We also form part of the London Region network of the Third Age Trust. We regularly send two Delegates to those meetings and all our members can also take advantage of their programme of events, conferences and summer schools.